assault. its fertile land is ripe for farming poppies, and that keeps the drug trade alive and strong. >> where else would we go? it's the only place left in the area of operations that we are not in. i think it's fairly inevitable. there is a certain strength in the culture from sitting -- you know, from laying it out there and saying, hey, we are coming. deal with it. >> nearly 100,000 people live in marjih. it's an example of general mccrystal's strategy to try and gain their trust. >> i think going base strong fast will reduce the opportunities for civilian casualties. our guys are well trained. i think we have demonstrated over the last ten months, we get it. >> the coalition says they are preparing for a bloody battle